John Stuart Mill The Principle Of Happiness

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Recommended: Moral Philosophy Of John Stuart Mill

PS 313

Modern Politics

Essay Number Two

Jessica Arteaga-Ramirez

Instructor – Dr. Jackie Vieceli

John Stuart Mill on “The Principle of Happiness”

John Stuart Mill was a dedicated philosopher on his work on ethics; his definition on the utilitarian principle. So Mill in his essay on human ethics writes about ways to seek utilitarianism or more specifically, the Greatest Happiness Principle. Mill explains that all action is for the sake of some end, and rules of action, it seems natural to understand, must take their whole character and color from the end to which they are obedient. When describing the “Greatest Happiness Principle”, Mill explains that it’s the creed that is accepted as the foundation of morals utility, that actions are …show more content…

An existence exempted as far as possible from pain, and as rich as possible in enjoyments and pleasure, both in point of quantity and quality. The test of quality, and the rule for measuring it against quantity, the preference felt by those who in their opportunities of experience to which people must be added to their habits of self-consciousness and self-observation, which are best furnished with the means of comparison. According to the utilitarian opinion of Mill, the end of human action is necessarily also the standard of morality; which may accordingly be defined. The rules and principles for human conduct, is by which an existence such as the greatest extent, and to secure all mankind; but so far as the nature of things admits, to the whole sentient creation. (Mill, …show more content…

Such as human beings should be more concern with their own happiness before others happiness. Happiness should be promoted onto one side and become happy in a situation before making others feel the same. And for him it should be the opposite and I just don’t agree with that - For John Stuart Mill, Utilitarianism is not only an ethical decision making theory but it’s also a way of life and a basis for morality. The utilitarian theory has proven the test of time and has been studied for hundreds of years by many. Like the many other theories, it is subject to positive feedback and negative criticisms. The greatest happiness principle is generally good, but it also has many flaws as we all know from the example. The inability to perfectly and accurately predict the future of oneself and actions often result in a fall. Utilitarianism, often considered immoral as the results of only causing pain. If this happened to everyone in the entire world, then no human being could be considered moral. The Greatest Happiness principle also allows for an individual, group or society to cause pain to others as long as majorities of the people become happier. Essentially this could just steal resources from smaller or larger foreign countries and drive them to poverty as long as more people benefit during the process than losing; such as slavery, bullying, rape, racism, and murder could be acceptable

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